Hi, my name is mypooch! Can I reduce my balance before Universal Credit check?

mypooch

I have been contacted by universal credit for my bank statements. How can i reduce my balance prior to checking. It money from my house sale

Rosie_Scope

Hi @mypooch, welcome to the community, I hope you'll find it friendly and helpful 😊

Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way to reduce your bank balance as Universal Credit will want to see the details of your account as it is. If you move money they will want to investigate where it's gone.

Are you worried that you're over the limits for capital?

mypooch

Yes i am over limit. I was saving for gran daughters univesity . And conservatory. From my previous hose sale

mypooch

Money is from previous sale of my home

Lauren29

How much money did your receive from the house sale? When did you receive this money and are you going to use any of this money to buy another house to live in? Did you report this money to Universal Credit? Have you moved onto Universal Credit as a result of Managed Migration?

poppy123456

If your capital is more than £16,000 then there's no entitlement to any means tested benefits.

There's a deduction for capital between £6,000 and £16,000.

If you sold a home that you lived in and are planning on buying another then it can be disregarded for 6 months, sometimes longer.

Unfortunately, saving money for your granddaughter and to have a conservatory are not things that can be disregarded.

If you claimed UC due to managed migration from Tax credits and you had more than £16,000 of capital when you migrated then it would have been disregarded for 1 year. It will not be disregarded if you didn't move from Tax credits or if you received the money after you migrated.

When you received that money you should have reported the changes.

mypooch

I downsized my house pay this off straight away.. been out of work 3yrs. They asked me todo a online medical interview. Until this point i recived nothing i asked why medical. They said its in my intrests i am still receving the same sick pay. Sounds stupid but i never check bank. I get pip. For dissabillities they said this does not matter to them .. so now they want a review and bank i assumed they not pay me .. i am guessing if they are correct. I must back pay them . Always worked paid what was needed. 62yrs now i am realy not sure what is happening

poppy123456

What do you mean you downsized your house to pay it off? What did you pay off?

If you have capital/savings of more than £16,000 there’s no entitlement to any means tested benefits and yes if you’ve been overpaid it will need to be repaid back.